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Source: ONE News -
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Transport Minister Steven Joyce is confident Auckland will be ready to host the Rugby World Cup next year, despite a report which shows the city's transport network will not cope with the influx of thousands of visitors.
The draft strategy, prepared last July by the Auckland Regional Transport Authority and released to the Dominion Post under the Official Information Act, showed planners were worried.
An extra 60,000 people are expected in the city for the event, placing more than four times the demand on public transport than Auckland had seen before.
"During presentations and meetings with decision-makers an attitude of 'this is a small increase in business as usual' has been encountered," the report said.
"The levels of patron movement and operational standard (needed for the RWC) are in reality significantly above what is currently delivered." Nearly 2km of roadside parking had to be found around Eden Park for 130 buses and the entire fleet of 38 Auckland trains would be needed on match days.
Joyce said on Monday night the report showed there was "considerable work to do", but good progress had been made since the report was written.
Auckland Mayor John Banks said $58 million was being spent on the Eden Park precinct and thousands were expected to walk from the central city well ahead of game kick-offs.
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